Spring Break: Not Just for Frat Boys Anymore

One of the things that I love about living in Mexico are the holidays.  Every time you turn around, it seems like there is a puente, or 3-day weekend.  Mexicans take their holidays so seriously in fact that the law was changed to move any holiday that falls during a weekday to a Monday (the holiday is still celebrated on the official day, but the "day off" from work and school is that Monday).

Recently, a friend of mine in the U.S. was complaining that no one in Mexico was answering his e-mails or calls.  "What is going on down there?!!!" he said.  And I told him - "We're on Spring Break!"  I explained to my friend that in Mexico, a country that is close to 90% Catholic, Holy Week is a very important week.  Some companies shut down for the entire week, some shut down for Holy Thursday and Good Friday, and others pick and choose when they will be off.  The schools are officialy off for two entire weeks, so some business owners and higher level execs take there families and leave for 2 weeks. 

While this frustrates many foreign business people, I'm all for it.  A well deserved rest is very welcome once April rolls around.  Who says Spring Break has to be just for college kids??

*Photo from USAToday